Niall shared the same concerns, but the reality was stark: they had initiated this entire unfortunate chain of events.

She'd been meticulously maintaining a gentle, graceful demeanor around Cullen. If he discovered this incident, he might perceive it as her family deliberately targeting Veronica. Such an impression could potentially tarnish her image in his eyes—something she couldn't afford to risk.

Penny understood Niall's anxieties perfectly. If anyone appreciated the critical importance of preserving one's reputation, it was her. After all, a woman's carefully cultivated image was often the secret to securing a man's enduring affection.

Sophia grasped the situation equally well. Cullen's profound love for Niall stemmed from seeing her as extraordinarily special. With careful handling, this incident might not permanently damage Niall's standing with him, but it certainly wasn't a positive development.

Turning her attention to Bonnie, Sophia remarked with deliberate casualness, "Bonnie, you're an adult now. You really must be more mindful about what comes out of your mouth in the future."

If they failed to navigate this delicate situation skillfully, it could deliver a devastating blow to both families' interests.

"But, I..." Bonnie's voice faltered mid-sentence.

What had initially seemed like a trivial incident had snowballed dramatically, expanding far beyond her expectations. She was genuinely trembling now, unaccustomed to such stern admonishment. Despite feeling sorry for herself, she recognized she had no choice but to acknowledge her mistake.

"I understand. I'll be more careful about my conduct," she conceded.

Sophia offered no further comment, settling into silence. Jade was visibly displeased seeing Bonnie reprimanded, but she couldn't deny that Bonnie had indeed triggered this entire mess.

If this incident negatively impacted Stellar's position in the autonomous vehicle industry, the financial consequences would be staggering. Compared to such substantial losses, Bonnie's hurt feelings seemed relatively insignificant—explaining why Jade, despite her personal inclinations, refrained from defending her.

Regardless, concealing the incident wasn't a realistic option. If DataPulse Enterprises proceeded with terminating their collaboration, Cullen would inevitably discover what happened. It was merely a matter of time.

Niall recognized this reality. So did Penny and Sophia.

Soon after, their meal was served, but nobody reached for their utensils. The pleasant atmosphere they'd enjoyed earlier had completely evaporated.

Niall clutched her phone tightly, contemplating briefly before taking a deep breath. She excused herself from the private dining room and called Cullen.

He answered promptly. "Hello."

"Cullen," she began, "something unpleasant has happened."

Niall recounted the entire incident before adding, "Veronica was behaving aggressively. When she belittled my mother, I couldn't contain myself. My emotions got the better of me, and that's how everything escalated."

Cullen waited until she finished before responding. "You're not seeing the complete picture. If they take legal action against Stellar, they won't stop at demanding collaboration termination and reputation damage compensation. They'll also seek breach of contract damages."

"The entire collaboration would collapse because of what appears to be your mistake. Terminating the contract would cause DataPulse significant losses, and they would absolutely make you pay for that."

Niall was stunned. "Dario never mentioned any of this during our call."

"He deliberately omitted it. He downplayed the situation to make you believe you could still salvage things. His strategy was to catch you off-guard, hoping you'd call back, admit fault, and apologize—essentially handing him leverage against you. If I'm correct, Dario likely recorded your entire conversation."

The revelation shocked Niall. Suddenly everything clicked. "Are you saying Veronica intentionally maneuvered me into calling Dario? She wanted me to provide them with incriminating evidence myself?"

"Exactly," Cullen confirmed.

Niall pressed her lips together. She'd completely underestimated how meticulously Veronica had orchestrated this trap. Only now did she grasp the true magnitude of her predicament.

After pondering deeply, she regained her focus and began, "I need your—"

Cullen interrupted her. "I can't promise I can resolve this. DataPulse enjoys government protection. There's little I can do against Dario directly."

What about targeting the Murray family?

The thought crossed Niall's mind, but she didn't voice it. She understood she couldn't suggest such a course unless Cullen initiated it himself. Without bringing it up, she couldn't know if he'd consider that option.

They talked a while longer before ending the call.

When Niall returned to the private room, Jade immediately inquired, "What did Cullen say?"

"He'll try mediating from his end but couldn't guarantee he could convince Dario to maintain the contract."

Penny, however, was concerned about something more significant. "Did he comment on the incident itself?"

The autonomous vehicle project, after all, wasn't as important as Cullen's relationship with Niall. What truly mattered was that his feelings for her remained unchanged.

Penny didn't need to elaborate—Niall understood perfectly.

A warm sensation spread through Niall's chest. "Cullen helped calm me down and promised to help resolve this. He didn't criticize me at all."

Hearing this, Penny visibly relaxed. Sophia and Jade likewise exhaled with relief.

Bonnie's mood brightened as well. "I knew it! Cullen loves you deeply. He would never stop caring for you or criticize you over something this minor."

While Niall appreciated Cullen's unwavering affection, she'd still suffered significant losses today—both to her dignity and potentially financially.

She responded coolly, "Let's set aside my relationship with Cullen for now. Bonnie, I don't want anything like this happening again in the future. Understood?"

Niall's unusually stern tone made Bonnie's hair stand on end. She shrank back instinctively. "U-Understood. I promise I'll think before I speak from now on."